La Cueva

I spent ten days at La Cueva where my parents live. It is a beautiful house in the outskirts of Villa de Leyva, Boyacá. It is slowly turning green and luscious after 5 years of compost, red worms, soil improvement, natural fertilizers, and tons of research on what grows well in this arid land. They have found species that were known to Muisca people before Spaniards came to the Americas, such as malanga, yacón, bore, sweet potato, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, uchuvas, feijoas, beans, prickly pears, fique, caña brava and guava trees. La Cueva also has species brought by Europeans such as valeriana, sugar cane, blue berries, and rasp berries. Other plants come from Middle East such as pomegranates, figs, fava beans and oranges. La Cueva has samples of all of them, and more!

La Cueva also hosts chickens, ducks, sheep, and two dogs: Rumba and Conga who keep visitors entertained and welcome. As I write, the concert of frogs and crickets outside keep me company. I am preparing to leave and my heart sinks at the idea of not coming more often. This corner is a homage to hard work, creativity, and a constant study and exploration of nature. The most remarkable aspect of this place is that everyone who comes here feels loved and respected. My parents are indeed incredible people who have always lived in coherence with their values, generators of life and ideas around them, gathering people around as they move in life. I admire and respect them dearly.